Iconic John Wayne Role Redone (True Grit remake)

movies.yahoo.com ^ | August 18, 2010 | Jonathan Crow

[GOPsterinMA]

In 1969, John Wayne played Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit" -- a grizzled, drunken U.S. Marshal hired by a 14-year-old girl to track down her father's killer. The role ended up winning the aging Western star his first and only Oscar, prompting him to make a rare sequel -- "Rooster Cogburn" -- opposite Katherine Hepburn in 1975. The image of Wayne's craggy, eye-patched visage from "True Grit" has become a cinematic icon.

So film mavens everywhere were taken aback when it was announced last year that Joel and Ethan Coen would been making their own version of "True Grit." But don't expect a straight remake; this movie is based more closely on the Charles Portis novel. And Jeff Bridges, fresh off his Oscar win, was tapped to play Cogburn; that's right, the Duke has been replaced by the Dude.

[xkaydet65]

Wayne’s performance to my mind was more a send up of Wallace Beery than any character the Duke ever played. Also Yahoo is wrong. The Duke played opposite Kate Hepburn in the sequel Rooster Cogburn. In True Grit he played opposite young actress Kim Darby.

[DemforBush]

“Matt Damon - BARF!!!”

I just remembered something about Damon. Supposedly, about ten years ago, he and Ben Affleck were considering doing a remake of - I kid you not - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with themselves in the roles of Redford and Newman.

Auuuuuuughh!!!1!

[rlmorel]

I think his character in “The Searchers” was probably some of his best acting, if not the best.

[Arizona Carolyn]

I tend to like the Ford films for the scenery as they were shot in my favorite place on earth and it always makes me feel good to see the scenery and with The Duke it’s a twofer.

[rlmorel]

No kidding...self centered, arrogant, unfeeling...a general all around twit for the character. Fit like a glove!

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Can you imagine what PC Hollywood would do to ‘The Searchers’?"

Natalie Wood's part would be played by a Muslim woman in a hijab...

[Inyo-Mono]

Took a trip this summer to SW Colorado where True Grit was filmed. Ate at the True Grit Cafe in Ridgeway. The cafe is across the street where they had the hanging scene. Also got to see the old house that was used for Mattie Ross home and the cemetery supposedly where her father was buried.

If you ever get a chance, come to the Eastern High Sierra of California where they filmed some other scenes for True Grit. I can show you where they filmed the shootout at the dugout, where Wayne made the men with the wagon throw there rifles in the river and where they rode through the reeds on the way to the river crossing.

[xkaydet65]

Sorry, should have read he article more carefully re Hepburn.

[GOPsterinMA]

Two libs (Affleck and Damon) for two libs (Newman and Redford) - it’s a wash.

[DemforBush]

You know, I finally saw “The Wild Bunch” for the first time about six months ago. Great cast, GREAT film. It was also my first taste of Peckinpah (I know, I know, I should hang my head in shame).

[Political Junkie Too]

What, Sam Elliott wasn't available?

-PJ

[Sans-Culotte]

I loved the book but was disappointed by the movie. Nothing to do with Wayne's’ acting which was one of the movie's saving graces.

I read the book back when the movie came out. The film was quite faithful, even replicating the somewhat unusual dialog style.

It was also directed by Henry Hathaway. In addition to the stars named in the article, it included Robert Duvall and Jeff "the Commie" Corey. It also featured yet another of Elmer Bernstein's great western music scores.

This remake frankly reeks of Hollyweird coming up empty in the originality department. It's OK to remake a film, but it is stupid to remake a classic one. I guess they are counting on today's young film goers not having seen a film made before 1980. They may as well remake To Kill a Mockingbird while they're at it.

[GOPsterinMA]

How about a gay black?

I forgot about the Wild, Wild West remake - what a POS that was.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

‘the heavies in the film are barely passable actors.’

ROBERT DUVAL is a ‘barely passable actor’?

[Arizona Carolyn]

and who do you know that is more left than Redford? yet he was great in Butch Cassidy.

[massmike]

Well,at least they’re not making a “Brokeback” version of it.Of course,I probably shouldn’t be giving them any ideas.....

[CaptainK]

I know all this. I saw the movie several times.

Maybe it was Kim Darby and Glenn Campbell. Their acting left a lot to be desired. And she seemed kind of long in the tooth for the part.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"It was also my first taste of Peckinpah"

If you want some more, watch "Bring me the Head of Alfredo Garcia". A highly underrated film. The Wild Bunch was his best though. It doesn't get any better than the final scenes. I'm surprised Duke never did a picture with him.

[Licensed-To-Carry]

"I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man".

"Fill your hand you son-of-a-bitch".

[Arizona Carolyn]

Kim Darby and Glenn Campbell could not act their way out of a paper sack, Wayne carried the movie... like he carried a lot of his movies... he was bigger than life.